Category: Makeup
June Julep Maven Box – Midsummer Light
When you get so much mail in one day (Saturday) that it takes days to work through the backlog…
June’s theme is “Midsummer Light”. I wasn’t wowed by the polishes this month, but I did choose one that looked pretty – Wonder Maven “Naveena”, lush jungle teal jelly. I have lots of teal polishes, but no teal jellies.
For beauty products, I chose one of the new Skip the Brush Creme-to-Powder Blush Sticks in “Warm Bronze”. I’m hoping it will give me a sun-kissed glow without actually stepping outside. I also chose a new shade of When Pencil Met Gel Long-Lasting Eyeliner in “Sunset Gold”. I’m gonna bling out my eyes.
My only complaint…NECCO wafers. Fucking disgusting. My husband called dibs and he can have those nasty things.
Not a Julep Maven? Click HERE to join – I’ll get a $15 credit and you’ll get your first box free!
Platinum Perk – Urban Decay VICE Lipstick
Another Platinum Perk from Ulta – am I gonna get one every week?
It was obvious from the outside of the box that I would be getting something from Urban Decay‘s new line of VICE lipstick. But what?
I carefully opened the outside box and pulled out the folder to find 24 samples of VICE lipstick. That’s a lot of lipstick…but nothing compared to the 100 lipsticks that make up the whole line. There are shades from every color family – purple, pink, red, brown and nude. There are different finishes – sheer, cream, matter and metallized. I better get my lip brush ready to break into all those little pods…
There’s also a folded up insert, featuring Ruby Rose (gorgeous), with all 100 shades shown. I was pleased as punch to find that 1993 (my new favorite shade) is part of the permanent collection.
Beauty Killer
It’s here…my precioussssss….
I didn’t get home until after 10 PM Saturday night, but the first thing I did was bust open that box and start smearing it all over my face. Beach hair, slightly sunburnt…still fabulous. I didn’t care that it was 4 AM in Scotland – I was sending Sally pics and videos. I will expect nothing less when she gets hers!
Launched on May 25th, I was lucky enough to get an order in for the first batch of Jeffree Star Cosmetics first eye shadow palette – “Beauty Killer” ($45). I was there at 12:00 sharp, with my finger on my phone.
Look at how BIG those shadow pans are. No other makeup company gives you that much shadow. And look at the color names – “Courtney”, “Black Rainbow”, “China White”…and they’re SO pigmented. I was able to apply “Rich Bitch” to my eyelids with just my fingers.
I also got one of Jeffree’s new Skin Frost Highlighters – “Ice Cold” ($29), a platinum lightning bolt across your face. I’m not exactly good at using highlighters, but I’m sure going to have fun trying.
I also couldn’t believe that “Rich Blood” was still in stock from it’s launch the week before…I snatched that sucker up! I also added “Prom Night”, because why not get free shipping? Over $100 = free shipping!
Oh…and Jeffree has two NEW lipstick shades launching on June 8th. “Mannequin” and “Rose Matter” will be mine…oh yes, they will be mine.
Flawless Ulta Haul
So…sometimes you just wanna buy something,
After perusing the Memorial Day sales…I was just about to place another overseas Makeup Revolution order (since they were giving away £25 Mystery Bags again), but I had a hard time getting my order up to £30. The only palette I really wanted badly was the Flawless Matte…
…and Ulta has it! On Memorial Day, they were giving away a free mystery sampler with a $50 purchase…no brainer.
So, in addition to the Makeup Revolution Flawless Matte Palette ($15), I also picked up a Makeup Revolution Baked Blusher in “Loved Me the Best” ($5) – these seem to be Laura Geller dupes – LOVE.
I also picked up one of the new NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipsticks – “Clubhopper” ($6.99) and one of the new NYX Plush Gel Lipsticks – “Breakup” ($6.99). I tried “Breakup” today – so smooth and moisturizing, but doesn’t last long on the lips.
How else can I get to $50? 2 bottles of Zoya Remove+ ($10 each) and a pack of Ulta Exfoliating Cotton Pads ($3.49). Done!
That Mystery Bag had some cool stuff: Mario Badescu Enzyme Revitalizing Mask, LORAC Alter Ego Lip Gloss in “Goddess”; Ahava Dead Sea Crystal Osmoter X6; NKD Skin Tinted Tan Mousse (NOPE); bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in “Get Ready” (my third one – I sent the last one to Sally); and Rodial Glamoxy Snake Serum (like that shit in Vegas?).
I also got a free sample of DevaCurl Waves Ahead Loo-Poo Delight – I don’t have curls, but why not try it for free? The free Butter London lippie was sold out. Sad face.
For my regular samples, I got Redken High Rise Volume Shampoo & Conditioner and Garnier Skin Active Clearly Brighter Brightening & Smoothing Daily Moisturizer.
Free shipping for an order over $50, plus got to use a $3.50 off coupon.
So look at that palette…all those warm matte colors…I tore a chunk out of my thumb nail whilst peeling the plastic off – but it was totally worth it.
Platinum Perk – Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil
Ulta Platinum has it’s benefits. Literally.
I was pleasantly surprised to get a surprise from Ulta in the mail yesterday. It was a product from Benefit’s new line of brow products, launching June 24th. Once I figured out how to get the box open, I found a Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil in Shade 3. Cool!
I tried it this morning. The tip is an oblong diamond, similar to the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer or Hourglass Arch Pencils that I have. Performance was similar and Shade 3 matched well enough, but it wasn’t a perfect match. At $24, it’s more expensive than the Anastasia, but cheaper than Hourglass. I lean towards the Anastasia Caramel as my favorite anyway.
I’ll definitely continue to use this pencil, but I don’t know that I’ll be buying it.
Amazon Beauty Box – May 2016
Amazon is going all out, putting itself into the Beauty Box game. First the Luxury Box and now this box…
This box was a bit more – $9.99 – and has drugstore brands…BUT…instead of giving me $10 off $50 like the last box, this box automatically put a $9.99 credit into my account. Of course, I can only use it on beauty products, but it will be much easier to use.
Inside the Amazon Beauty Box: L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara in “Black”; Garnier Whole Blends Repairing Shampoo & Conditioner in “Honey Treasures”; Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Shampoo & Conditioner (I haven’t tried this before, but I love the other Fekkai samples I’ve received in the past); L’Oreal Brow Stylist Sculptor in “Brunette” (Interesting); L’Oreal True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation in “Nude Beige”; Black 15in1 Miracle Hair Treatment; and Mineral Fusion Lengthening Mascara in “Graphite”.
Lots of L’Oreal to try, but some other good stuff, too. Thanks, Amazon!
Sephora Play! May 2016 – The Forces of Nature
Sephora Play sent out a redesigned box for their 9th month. Instead of an inner box in a cardboard wrapper (like Birchbox), they sent out a standalone box (like Julep and Beauty Box 5). Instead of the tiny magazine, the product insert is now a folded one sheet. (There’s still the Play! Pass, good for 50 extra points on your next Sephora visit.) They’ve also moved away from numbering their boxes – no mention that this is box 9 on the insert.
May’s theme is “The Forces of Nature” and comes with a cute muslin pouch that says “Let’s beauty together”. Inside the pouch: Atelier Cologne “Orange Sanguine”; Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Mask (I’ve gotten this in boxes a few times and they’ve changed packaging to a tube instead of that annoying tub – thank you); Tarte Tarteist Lip Crayon in “Latergram” (nude); Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in “Kimchi” (bright pink); Origins Maskimizer Skin-optimizing Mask Primer, Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask and Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask (oh, how I love masks); and Korres Wild Rose Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial.
What a dynamite box – I’ll use it all…probably tonight and tomorrow.
If you haven’t signed up yet – now is the time. This is by far the best subscription box I get every month. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
My First Black Moon
This past week was one of a few firsts – my first Jeffree Star lippies and now…my first Black Moon Cosmetics lippies.
I was turned on to Black Moon…again, by Sally. As a small brand, they also have cyclical restocks, meaning you have to pay attention to get the colors you want. A big restock happened on May 13th and I had my order placed within minutes. It took just a week to get here, received it yesterday. The packaging is beautiful…and not just the lippies themselves. They come in a fancy box with an illustrated inside and glittery tissue paper…and a thank you note!
I selected “Selene” (a beautiful deep plum with a gorgeous soft purple pearlescent sheen) and “Wrath” (the perfect combination of mauve with a hint of pink and a touch of brown). Like Jeffree Star, the lippies are $18 (click here to see the whole range). The formulas are not runny like Jeffree’s, but are more like a mousse texture – similar to Julep’s It’s Whipped Lip Mousse. They go on and stay on.
“Selene” is a pearly plum and very dark on me (husband said too dark). “Wrath” is very similar to Kat Von D “Lolita” on me – my holy grail color. That means I might not need to buy Jeffree Star “Androgyny” when it restocks…bullshit, I’ll totally be buying it anyway.
OH! And I’ve found the perfect way to remove these tough lippies! I dip a cotton ball in Peter Thomas Roth Pink Bombshell Lip Balm and it wipes right off and leaves my lips moist and hydrated. I definitely give it an A++ for preventing shredded, dry lips.
Allure Beauty Thrills – May 2016
As a pleasant surprise, Allure Beauty Thrills offered a pre-order several weeks before the May box went on sale. They offered all three of this year’s boxes for $199.95, with free shipping. That’s a $20 premium compared to buying each box separately…but without the hassle of making the tiny ordering window – guaranteed boxes!
I was a bit worried when I lifted the box – it seemed WAY lighter than previous boxes. When I opened the box, it even seemed less full – lots more bubble wrap and paper. But there are plenty of products…they’re just smaller. Inside the May box: Hask Macadamia Moisturizing Shine Oil (I have SO many HASK vials); Burt’s Bees BB Cream in “Light Medium” (I bet this stuff is good) and Burt’s Bees Lipstick in “Magenta Rush”; ChapStick Total Hydration 3 in 1 Lip Care in “Coconut Hydration” (this shit is the BOMB – I used up the last one…who EVER uses up a chapstick?); Arm & Hammer Truly Radiant Battery-Operated Spinbrush (I already have one from another box, so I gave it to Lily) and Truly Radiant Clean & Fresh Toothpaste; Aveeno Absolutely Ageless Intensive Renewal Serum; Completely Bare Calm Down Ingrown Hair, Razor Bump & Redness Eliminator (perfect for summer crotch rash); Caress Mystique Forever Body Wash; Compeed Blister Cushions (I need these – I have a few shoes I’ve been avoiding); Coppertone CLEARLYSheer FACES SPF 30 (Definitely going to try this while out fishing this weekend); Degree Women Dry Spray in “Daisy Fresh”; Not Your Mother’s In A Heart Beat Blow Dry Accelerator; Pureology Pure Volume Style + Care Infusion (the tube is the weirdest ever – an inner layer and outer layer); Redken Beach Envy Volume Wave Aid (yup, more of it); Rituals Magic Touch Body Cream (that sounds almost TOO sexy); scünci Everyday & Active 3x Stronger Braided Elastics (LOVE these); Simple Skincare Micellular MAKE-UP Remover Wipes; Sonia Kashuk Double-Zip Clutch (It’s HUGE); Tangle Teezer Original Detangling Hairbrush (I’m gonna be chasing Little Orphan Lily around the house with this); TIGI Bed Head JOYRIDE Texturizing Powder Balm (the fuck?); and VersaSpa Gradual Tanning Face Moisturizer (a whole lot of NOPE).
I feel like I’ll be using more of the stuff in this box than in past ones…now all I have to do is sit back and wait for my August box to arrive.
Sephora 2 in 1
I’m going to kill 2 birds with one stone and post about a trip to Sephora AND a Sephora shipment.
Over the weekend, I persuaded my husband to drop me off at Sephora, in between an eye doctor appointment, torrential downpours and a stop by Academy to get fishing licenses. He actually parked the car, instead of circling the parking lot. Maybe next time, I can get him to come in (yeah, right).
I just wanted one thing…my free rollerball. As I expected, I chose Tory Burch Jolie Fleur Rose.
I browsed briefly, but nothing else caught my eye. They had several of the half-price Urban Decay lipsticks, but I didn’t bother. No money spent on this trip!
I didn’t bother, because I knew I had one coming…I chose Urban Decay Matte Revolution Lipstick in “1993” ($11). Mostly because it looks like my kind of brown…but also because 1993…1993 was a wild year for me – 17.I’m fairly certain that 1993 was the last time I was single for an extended amount of time…enough said.
I was far more excited about the new 500 point NARS “The Rules Box” (which is already sold out). I wanted to get NARS “Orgasm” Blush in my hot little hands…Also in the box: NARS Audacious Mascara, “Chelsea Girls” Lip Gloss and Pro-Prime Smudgeproof Eye Shadow Base (been looking for a new one). I’m about to get NARSed out!
For my regular threee samples, I got Pinrose Treehouse Royal (a single use foil pack); Too Faced Glitter Glue Glitter Eye Shadow Primer (curious about this one); and GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment.
Just $11 spent here…and $151 to Rouge!